Arsita

:"Arşiţa also refers to several Romanian villages."Infobox CityIT
official_name = Comune di Arsita
img_coa = Arsita-Stemma.png img_coa_small =


image_caption =
region = RegioneIT|sigla=ABR
province = ProvinciaIT (short form)|sigla=TE (TE)
mayor =
mayor_party =
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 470
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 34
population_footnotes =
population_as_of = 2007
population_total = 961
pop_density_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 28
coordinates = coord|42|30|0|N|13|47|0|E|region:IT_type:city(961)
gentilic =
telephone = 0861
postalcode = 64031
frazioni = Cacciafumo, Collemesolo, Figliolarsita, Pantane, Valleiannina
saint = San Nicola da Tolentino
day = 10 September
mapx = #expr:42 + 30 / 60.0
mapy = #expr:13 + 47 / 60.0
locator_position =
native_name = Arsita
name = Arsita
website = http://tecuting.it/c067003/hh/index.php?lang_eg=2

Arsita is a medieval town and comune in Province_of_Teramo in the Abruzzo region of eastern Italy. It is located in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park".

Geography

Arsita is a a comunal capital in the Province of Teramo in the Abruzzo Region of Italy. Arsita is located at an altitude of 470 meters in the hills along the river Fino, on the Eastern side of the Gran Sasso d'Italia, 36 km from Teramo. In its territory there are pre-Roman remains from the VIII century B.C., and Roman coins, floors of buildings and small statues of the early Christian era.

History

Called Bacucco until 1905, Arsita rose in the later Middle Ages around a fortified castle called Castello Bacucco, which belonged originally to the Count of Chieti, then to the monks of Montecassino and finally to the Casa d'Este. The village was sold in 1583 to Margaret of Austria Farnese. Other historians claim that Bacucco took its name from the Roman word for the god Bacchus.

In the 12th century the town was a possession of the ruling Acquaviva family. In 1806 the town came under the rule of the town of Penne. Druing the Napoleonic period a good number of brigands held the territory in and around Arsita. A series of skirmishes occurred during this period.

In the early 1800's the waters from a spring in this area were said to have healing powers.

Events

Each year on the 17th of January, the residents of Arsita, in collaboration with the towns of Cermignano, Tossicia, and Bisenti celebrate the Feast of Saint Antonio Abate. Another festival features the townsfolk dressed up in costumes representing the 12 months of the year.

ights

*Castello Bacucco, (remains) in the uppermost part of the village.
*Church of Santa Vittoria
*Church of Santa Maria D'Aragona, with a fine Madonna con Bambino
*Di Francesco watermill, along the ancient "Sentiero dei Mulini" (mills' path)
*Inferno spaccato, a rock-climbing site with modern facilities